The Austin boys' basketball team rides improved play onto the court for Section 1AAA play starting Thursday night.

The No. 7 seed Packers, who ended the regular season with a 55-40 loss to Class AAAA's third-ranked Rochester John Marshall Rockets, play at Rosemount at 7 p.m. The Irish ended Austin's postseason run last year in the section semifinals.

Red Wing, ranked 10th in AAA, is the four-time defending Section 1 champion and the top seed. The Wingers (19-6) went all the way to last year's state finals before falling in the championship game to Minneapolis Patrick Henry.

Rosemount garners the second seed with a 16-9 overall record. The Irish were ranked eighth in the final boys' basketball poll.

Austin has played improved basketball down the stretch, but only one win in its last eight games to show for it. The Packers (7-16) went 2-3 against Section 1 teams during the regular season.

"We really feel like we have a good read on them," AHS coach Kris Fadness said of Rosemount. "Our biggest concern is not turning the ball over. They don't have the size to play with (Jon) Bain inside, and the way (John) Duren and (Alex) Kaiser have been shooting the ball lately I think we can make some things happen offensively."

Rosemount has played 22 of 25 games against Class AAAA opponents, winning all three times against AAA teams. Of Rosemount's nine losses, six were to ranked 4A opponents Bloomington Jefferson (No. 4), Burnsville (5) and Eden Prairie (6).

The Irish are led by 6-3 senior guard Kyle Marxhausen, the team's most viable threat to score. Marxhausen has signed to play basketball at Minnesota State, Mankato, next winter. Senior point guard Mike Kootsikas was also a starting member of last year's Rosemount squad that eliminated Austin, 59-43.

"We feel pretty confident in the half court, but I am sure Rosemount's going to try to speed us up," Fadness said. "Overall I've been pretty happy with our last four or five games. We just need to eliminate the turnovers."

Section 1AAA:

Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 6, 7 p.m.

(6) Farmington at (3) Winona

(7) Austin at (2) Rosemount

(8) New Prague at (1) Red Wing

(5) Northfield at (4) Faribault

Semifinals

At Mayo Civic Center

Saturday, March 8, 1/2:45 p.m.

Finals

Friday, March 14, 6:30 p.m.